Thousands march against nuclear weapons in Glasgow

Bairns not bombs - on the march against Trident in Glasgow this Saturday (Pic: Duncan Brown)

Up to 8,000 people joined a Scrap Trident march in Glasgow today, Saturday, against nuclear weapons in Scotland.

The protest was one of the biggest marches against nuclear weapons in Scotland for years.

The streets were filled with working class families, independence campaign groups, trade unionists and political parties. Their main slogan was “Bairns not bombs” and chants of “Welfare not warfare” rang out along the march.

Student Lotte explained to Socialist Worker why she thought it was so big.

She said, “A lot of people don't like Trident and want to get rid of it. Instead of the money being wasted it could be spent on education, the NHS or childcare.”

As well as Scrap Trident placards people also carried placards against the Saudi Arabia-led assault on Yemen as well as against Nato. Others simply read “Hope over Fear”.

Some homemade placards were rather direct, with one displaying the simple message “stick your nukes up yer a*se”.

Jacob McBane was one of the younger activists on the demo at 15 years old. He told Socialist Worker he thought Trident is “a waste of money with no realistic use”.

All the main Westminster parties are committed to spending £100 billion on Trident replacement while also being committed to austerity. It will be a big issue in this general election.

Jacob added, “It's a bit hypocritical for any party to say we need cuts when they are spending so much on it.”

Dangerous

Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish National Party (SNP) leader and Scottish first minister, addressed the rally. She was introduced as “the most dangerous woman in Britain speaking out against the most dangerous weapons”.

Sturgeon reiterated the SNP’s opposition to Trident and said scrapping it remained a “red line” it would not cross in any negotiations to support a Labour government.